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In New D Movie Straight to Video, Bruce Willis Is Second-Billed to Former Soap Star Patrick Muldoon

Roger Friedman
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In New D Movie Straight to Video, Bruce Willis Is Second-Billed to Former Soap Star Patrick Muldoon

The trashing of Bruce Willis’s legacy, whatever that was, continues apace.

His latest is a D movie going straight to video and to airplanes called “Deadlocked.” Bruce, once the highest paid movie star in the world, now gets second billing to former soap star Patrick Muldoon. (Muldoon takes the place here of fill in the blank Frank Grillo, Chad Michael Murray, whatever younger failed soap star turned action hero is available. It’s the formula.)

“Deadlock” is directed by Jared Cohn, who has a decade’s worth of credits for movies no one has ever heard of. In the trailer, Bruce says little and doesn’t move around much. It looks like all his work was done in one day and cut up into various scenes. Otherwise they use a stand in. I’m not sure if Bruce has any idea what’s going on, and it’s getting worse.

“Deadlock” has no fewer than 17 Executive Producers! And three more people with producer credits (they probably did the work). One of the EPs is of course Stephen J. Eads, who I’m starting to wonder about. And so should Bruce’s wife, Emma, and his wife, Demi Moore. There are now trashbins full of these things. There are no fewer than 10– TEN– more coming soon!

Listen: Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind/Everybody Loves You Now” Previously Unreleased (1975) from Coming 9-LP Set

Roger Friedman
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Listen: Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind/Everybody Loves You Now” Previously Unreleased (1975) from Coming 9-LP Set

Billy Joel is coming back to Madison Square Garden next Friday November 5th– to begin his 50 years in the business!

Come on! Billy– we’re young! Wasn’t “Piano Man” like yesterday!

Tied into this. Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Billy Joel – The Vinyl Collection, Vol.1 also on November 5, kicking off a celebration of the legendary musician’s 50 years of artistry.

PS UPDATE Just received the box set, and it’s to drool over.

A definitive 9LP library chronicling Billy Joel’s evolution as a songwriter, performer and recording artist during his rise from obscurity to international superstardom in the 1970s, The Vinyl Collection, Vol. 1 brings together the artist’s first six solo studio albums (Cold Spring Harbor, Piano Man, Streetlife Serenade, Turnstiles, The Stranger, 52nd Street) with his first live album (Songs in the Attic) and an exclusive pressing of Live at The Great American Music Hall – 1975, a previously unreleased concert recording available for the first time in the boxset as a double 12″ vinyl album.

All titles have been sourced from the original album tapes and prepared by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound. The boxset includes a 50+ page booklet highlighting Billy’s early career through archival photos, an essay by Anthony DeCurtis, Billy’s personal observations and insights on his songs and albums, and tributes from his fellow musicians, artists and celebrities.

Michael Jackson Musical “MJ” Casts Young Michaels and Young Marlon, Previews Begin December 6th

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson Musical “MJ” Casts Young Michaels and Young Marlon, Previews Begin December 6th

“MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical” is coming. Previews begin December 6th on Broadway.

The show announced casting today: Walter Russell III from Harlem, New York, and Christian Wilson from Norfolk, Virginia, will alternate in the role of “Little Michael.” Also announced was Devin Trey Campbell from Bronx, New York, who will play the role of “Little Marlon.”

Tickets are on sale now. So far, it’s show, but that’s par for the course along Broadway. This show will live an die on the performances. The kids will wow audiences, and if the dancing is great and the singing is right, “MJ” could be a big hit. It’s all about Michael from childhood through “Thriller,” with no bad stuff. There’s a lot of pressure on star Myles Frost, but I’ll bet he can do it.

 

Pop Sales: Adele’s “Easy on Me” Has Sold Five Times as Many Copies This Week as Idiotic Anti-Biden Novelty Song

Roger Friedman
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Pop Sales: Adele’s “Easy on Me” Has Sold Five Times as Many Copies This Week as Idiotic Anti-Biden Novelty Song

iTunes is being gamed, as it happens, by people “stuffing the ballot box.”

An idiotic novelty song by very low-minded people who don’t believe the pandemic exists and are anti-Joe Biden is at the top of the iTunes T0p 100. It’s leapt over Adele’s “Easy On Me” out of the blue.

But the reality is this: “Let’s Go Brandon” (code for “f— Biden”) has sold just 37,800 copies so far this week. The good news for singer Bryson Gray is that it’s all downloading, no streaming. No one is streaming this record. (Do Trumpers subscribe to streaming services? I guess not.)

Meantime, “Easy on Me” has already sold over 180,000 copies this week. The total so far is almost at 700,000. The bulk of the sales are streaming, although 17,500 are from downloads.

“Easy On Me” has around 121 million views on YouTube. Loza Alexander’s original stupid version of “Brandon” has around 3 million.

Adele will win the week in streaming. Bryson Gray will soon return to oblivion. Why anyone would spend money on the latter junk is beyond me. The pandemic is real, it’s killed over 300,000 Americans. Get vaxxed, don’t be an idiot. I just don’t understand how people who’ve had COVID or lost loved ones to it are too stupid to get this. You would lose a job and livelihood rather than get a safe shot?

Ironically, the people the government is probably tracking are the ones who refuse the jab, not the ones who got it!

Wednesday Ratings: World Series Beats Everything, Sends “The Conners” and ABC Comedies into Basement

Roger Friedman
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Wednesday Ratings: World Series Beats Everything, Sends “The Conners” and ABC Comedies into Basement

Last night’s ratings were predictably bad for the ABC Comedy block. The World Series on Fox scored over 8 million viewers as the Astros trounced the Braves (not thrilled, frankly). It is hoped the Braves will get a grip and control over what’s going on.

ABC on Wednesdays is a mess. “The Conners,” as we know, has gone into a tailspin. Last night the “Roseanne” spin off dropped almost 11% from last week in total viewers and 18% in the key demo, 18-49. They lost almost 400,000 fans from last week. Those viewers must be Astros fans!

The sad part of this story is that “The Conners,” with just 3.2 million viewers, is the high ground for ABC Wednesdays. “The Goldbergs” was at 3.1 million. “The Wonder Years” 2.0 and “Home Economics” are way behind, and they’ve been issued extensions through May. I’ve never heard anyone mention “A Million Little Things,” a ‘thirtysomething’ lite soap opera. If ABC wants a soap, they’d be smart to revive “Knots Landing,” or actually bring back ‘thirtysomething’ (whatever happened to that idea).

 

 

Review: HBO Produced “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Returns With Larry David Taking a Jab at Competitor Netflix

Roger Friedman
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Review: HBO Produced “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Returns With Larry David Taking a Jab at Competitor Netflix

Yes, it’s time for season 11 of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” It would be hard to top Season 10 and the Spite Store, but Larry and his team seem like they’re ready for anything.

Two things pop out in the first episode of Season 11. Larry has sold a TV pilot called “Young Larry” to…Netflix. Indeed, Netflix is all over this episode, which is a sharp dig at HBO’s main competitor in the off network TV races. Larry and manager Jeff (Jeff Garlin) visit the Netflix digs, take meetings there, and even have auditions for the show.

Back when David and Jerry Seinfeld had their storyline on the latter’s show about “the show about nothing,” Jerry and George pitched it to NBC, the same network as “Seinfeld.” But now Larry David seems to be taking a poke at Netflix, and we’ll see where that goes.

Also of interest is the addition of the great Albert Brooks, who seems to be taking the place, at least for now, of Richard Lewis. It’s great seeing Brooks, who doesn’t love him? This may be an homage to Brooks’s real life brother, Bob Einstein, who played Larry’s friend Funkhauser until his untimely death in 2019. No mention has been made of Funkauser’s passing on “Curb,” and now his real life brother appears.

There was a recurring bit on Sunday night’s episode of people walking into glass doors that was funny, and laughed out loud during JB Smoove’s auditioning for girlfriends with the same name was his ex, but what I didn’t enjoy was the whole subplot of Larry being blackmailed by a Mexican family. It came off as cruel and a little racist. And kinda stupid.

But off we go for another season which won’t be boring, that’s for sure. And, of course, Susie Essman rocks.

 

Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department: Alec Baldwin Active Part of Investigation, Too Early for Charges, Live Rounds Found on Set

Roger Friedman
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Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department: Alec Baldwin Active Part of Investigation, Too Early for Charges, Live Rounds Found on Set

The Santa Fe Sheriff’s department has no news yet about bringing any charges in the “Rust” movie Alec Baldwin scandal concerning the death of Halyna Hutchins and shooting of Joel Souza.

The sheriff, Adan Mendoza,  said at a press conference going on right now that they’ve got the bullet that killed Hutchins and was removed from Souza’s shoulder. More importantly, they also have matching live rounds from the weapon that killed Hutchins found on the set. This indicates that the gun was shot more than once, not necessarily only by Baldwin but by others also perhaps prior to the incident. There have been allegations that the gun was used for fun before its use on set.

The sheriff says there were was other ammunition in the fun fired by Baldwin.

Further investigations are pending. All the evidence is going to the FBI crime lab for testing.

The local District Attorney said at the press conference: “No one has been ruled out at this point. Right now [Alec Baldwin] is an active part of this investigation.”

Elvis Costello Debuts New Single, “Magnificent Hurt,” Steve Nieve Returns to Tour After False Positive COVID Test

Roger Friedman
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Elvis Costello Debuts New Single, “Magnificent Hurt,” Steve Nieve Returns to Tour After False Positive COVID Test

Elvis Costello and the Impostors dropped a new single this morning, “Magnificent Hurt,” and it’s really terrific. You will hear Steve Nieve’s organ featured prominently. Nieve missed Monday’s show at the Capitol Theater after receiving a false positive COVID test. He was back last night on the tour. I’m sorry I missed him.

“Magnificent Hurt” comes from a new album coming January 14, 2022 called “The Boy Named If.” Other songs from the album currently being road tested on tour include “Farewell OK” (which I did get to hear Monday night), plus “What If I Can’t Give You Anything but Love?” and “Mistook Me for a Friend.”

On the tracklist is a song called “My Most Beautiful Mistake” featuring Nicole Atkins. Of course, there’s a famous Costello song already called “Brilliant Mistake,” so we’ll see what that’s all about. Costello has almost never had a duet singer credited to any of his records, so who is Nicole Atkins? The 43 year old is not that well known although she’s had a lot of releases and praise. All of a udden she’s going to get a big boost from this recording. And we’ll learn all about her.

An interesting PS: Elvis has been on Concord Records for a while now. But with “The Boy Named If” he moves to Capitol Records at Universal Music Group. Capitol is a little more commercial than Concord, which suggests the album has some sales potential. From the tracks I’ve heard, I’d agree, although there’s nothing better than Costello’s Grammy winning “Look Now” album. Still in my car player!

ABBA SOS: On Eve of Marketing Launch, Three New Singles in a Row Have Failed to Sell or Get Radio Play

Roger Friedman
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ABBA SOS: On Eve of Marketing Launch, Three New Singles in a Row Have Failed to Sell or Get Radio Play

ABBA, the fabled international Swedish pop stars, are coming with the first new album since 1982. On November 5, the world will hear “Voyage,” the opening salvo in their mega return.

But aside from the two men in ABBA, does anyone care? Even the two women in the group are half-heartedly participating. They’re not even doing promotion.

click here for today’s headlines

The public seems less than interested, especially in ABBA’s new music. As with all legacy acts from the 70s, 80s, and even 90s, the fans just want to hear the hits. Their brains aren’t wired to accept new music.

And so ABBA has released three failed singles since September 2nd. All duds, not only sales wise, but on the radio, and critically. They are bad records. And the public has responded in kind.

Here are the sales figures according to Buzz Angle/Alpha Data:

Just a Notion – 3,000 copies total mostly streaming, only 574 paid downloads
Don’t Shut me Down — 37,000 copies, 5,800 downloads
I Still Have Faith in You — 25,000 copies, 4,300 downloads

Those numbers don’t augur well for “Voyage,” even though the album is currently listed at number 7 on Amazon based on advance sales. But “Voyage” could have one or two big days based on those sales, and then peter out quickly if there aren’t tracks getting attention. So far radio has ignored the new ABBA songs, and with good reason. They are not nearly as charismatic as ABBA’s fabled hits which have been featured in two movie musicals, one Broadway musical, a covers album by Cher, and so on.

It’s quite possible this whole ABBA revival is going to be the Titanic of comebacks. What the fans wanted is a tour with the original four members singing “Dancing Queen.” Maybe a live album would have followed. But so far, a new album of original songs is not what they wanted. And the fake ABBA non-hologram whatever-it-is thing? We’ll see if that sells tickets. They may get away with it in Europe, but in the US it’s doubtful.

Is Brandi Carlile a Roots or Pop Artist? Grammys Move Her into the Big Time Mainstream And She’s Not Happy

Roger Friedman
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Is Brandi Carlile a Roots or Pop Artist? Grammys Move Her into the Big Time Mainstream And She’s Not Happy

Brandi Carlile performed two songs on “Saturday Night Live” this past weekend. Both songs were wonderful, and Grammy worthy. But Carlile is disappointed the Grammys moved “Right on Time” out of the Americana category and into pop. Listen to the song. What do you think? It’s Americana/roots but I see the point: Brandi Carlile is now mainstream, and that’s what pop is.

PS Brandi’s album, “In these Silent Days,” was held for release til October 1st, one day past the eligibility deadline. So it’s going to be in the 2023 Grammys. Why? I have no idea. It would have been an Album of the Year nominee this time without a doubt. Labels think this extends the life of an album but I think people forget and move on. We’ll see.

A few words from Brandi about the Grammys.

Americana/American Roots music is more than a genre to me. It represents my community, my family, my friends and my beautiful island of misfits. I am also proud that it represents a great number of people actively WORKING to platform marginalized people – LGBTQIA, women, and people of color (who, of course, actually built the genre).

The importance of staying and working within Americana is greater than just me. There is not a moment where I don’t view my role as something larger. I feel great responsibility in representing marginalized queer people in rural America who are raised on country and roots music but are repeatedly and systematically rejected by the correlating culture. Every rung I can sling my gay sequined boot up on top of gets queer people a little higher on the ladder to being seen as just a bit more human in the great American roots landscape

I am very proud to be the Americana Association’s Artist of the Year two years in a row and to have debuted at number one on the Billboard Americana chart! It was an honor to have made my album at the same place I made my last one….and with all the same folks! Same producers and band. I cut every song live with acoustic guitars, vintage electrics plugged into old fender amps, beautifully aged pianos and with my fog horn vocals bleeding into every mic.

While I’m incredibly flattered to be considered “pop” as a 40 year old crooning lesbian mother, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit surprised and disappointed to learn the Recording Academy decided to move “Right On Time” out of the American Roots genre and into the pop category.

Being recognized by the Grammys — in any form — is a great honor. I just want folks to know this wasn’t my decision. Regardless, it doesn’t change who I am or what my Americana community continues to mean to me.

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